Kim Volarcik joined the Office of Research and Technology Management in 2004, and has more than 20 years of experience in leadership, administration and oversight of human research, animal research, recombinant DNA and human stem cells research.
As the executive director for Case Western Reserve University’s Human Research Protection Program (HRPP), Kim leads a strong team that is dedicated to the protection and autonomy of human participants. She also oversees the maintenance and reaccreditation processes for the university to keep its Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) Full Accreditation status.
Additionally, Kim provides leadership and strategic initiatives for the CWRU Institutional Review Board (IRB), Quality Improvement Program (QIP), Reliant Review Agreement Program and CWRU clinical trials records registered with ClinicalTrials.gov.
She is also the administrator for the IRB Advisory Committee, which is composed of chairpersons and executive directors of the CWRU IRB and the university’s affiliated hospitals (Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth, University Hospitals and VA Northeast Ohio Health Care). Kim provides oversight of federally funded studies that are reviewed by these IRBs. Her role supports the review and processing of reportable new information reports of federally funded studies.
Kim works collectively with the specific IRB and Compliance Department to investigate the compliance matter, identify if any non-compliance matter has occurred. If so, Kim helps bring the study back into compliance and ensures a corrective action plan is put into place to mitigate the event from recurring. If the compliance matter is a reportable event, Kim and the IRB of record work together in reporting the matter to the appropriate federal agencies.
Kim also teaches a Research Ethics and Regulations course for the Department of Bioethics in the School of Medicine. She is an alumna of the CWRU Women’s Staff Leadership Development Institute, (WSLDI) and is an executive coach where she provides coaching experiences for faculty, staff and students.
Before joining the Office of Research Administration, Kim was a pediatric nurse at University Hospitals Rainbow and Babies Hospital and a clinical coordinator in the Center for Human Genetics & Genetics and Genome Sciences.